Loss of Site Shops on remote rural sites

Come and live here Ray. I have just driven 15 miles from home and back to the butcher in town and to pick up groceries from stores which don’t deliver.

Do motorhomers need special treatment? Or can they do as local residents do?

Go and get your supplies as we do. Or have you bought an inconvenient vehicle?

Perhaps some wardens have taken out the necessary insurance while others feel it’s not worthwhile? 🤷🏻‍♂️

If we run out of things, or forget to purchase certain items, we consider it our fault. There is no substitute for a bit of planning and no real reason to run out of gas unexpectedly, carry two cylinders, as we did in our caravan or use refillables as we do in our MH. When we have the granddaughter with us ice creams are nice but not essential.

The "Friendly Club" seem to have small retail outlets on site for the "essentials".   They also seem to be well staffed.  The last site we used had seven (7) staff which meant none were overwork, stressed and grumpy.  I was most impressed.  Shop prices were high but not eye wateringly so.  

I do know that selling flammable gas cylinders carries regulations regarding both storage and insurances. I understand the convenience issue of selling this to members but I’m sure the club would cover those associated issues., Now finding the sizes of bottles and a wholesaler willing to deliver to some sites may be more of an issue.  
With regard to staffing/manning shops, where do the staff come from and who pays their hours? It would have to a contract with contracted working hours and all those add on employment requirements I guess. 

But is it the change of warden that is the primary change agent in the loss of site shops? I’d bet it’s more to do with the now recognised corporate legalities and the need to be ‘squeaky clean’ in the delivery of such services to us, the general public! The world has changed since those ‘easy’ years of old.

It does seem a shame that one can’t pick up the odd essential if needed. Has the club ever made any statement regarding this?

Richard

I suspect the Club took the action of withdrawing insurance cover as they had no knowledge of what was being sold. If sites were selling local artisan products the Club would have no way of judging whether they met all the food allergy regulations. I don't think they said sites couldn't have shops. If the site staff have to arrange their own insurance they will want to make sure they are meeting all their obligations in a way the Club can't.  Once staff became reconciled with the new approach they probably realised it was not as big a problem as first thought?

David

I don't think that members would be impressed with the financial loss of their money in supporting site shops.

There's lots of comments on CT about units being self sufficient and not needing EHU and facility blocks on site. It's not differcult to take enough food and drink with you for your trip.

From what I recall from a then serving warden the club's policy is that it is totally up to the wardens to decide if they want to run a shop which has to be set up (items to be sold and fridges, seprate tills...) using their own money and stocked/restocked in their own time .

Also I seem to recall that gas and toilets fluids are always sold but these are provided by the club and not by wardens.

If a shop is there I'll use it but we don't expect or plan for one to be provided.